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Presented below are federal and state laws on prostitution within the United States. Prostitution is illegal in the United States with the exception of11 Nevada counties. On Nov. 3, 2009, Rhode Island closed a legal loophole that had allowed indoor prostitution to exist since 1980.

Laws involving human trafficking or child prostitution are not included. Clicking on the hyperlinked titles, states, and counties will bring up the full text of each law. The information was last updated Nov. 4, 2009. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first checking an official edition of the applicable law.

"Any alien who-- (i) is coming to the United States solely, principally, or incidentally to engage in prostitution, or has engaged in prostitution within 10 years of the date of application for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status...is inadmissible."

"Within such reasonable distance of any military or naval camp, station, fort, post, yard, base, cantonment, training or mobilization place as the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, or any two or all of them shall determine to be needful to the efficiency, health, and welfare of the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force, and shall designate and publish in general orders or bulletins, whoever engages in prostitution....prohibited shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

"Whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to... otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity...shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

"Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."

"Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both."

"Whoever... controls... house... for the purpose of prostitution knowing... that the individual is an alien, shall file with the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization a statement in writing setting forth the name of such individual, the place at which that individual is kept, and all facts as to the date of that individual's entry into the United States, the port through which that individual entered, that individual's age, nationality, and parentage, and concerning that individual's procuration to come to this country within the knowledge of such person; and [w]hoever fails within five business... to file such statement concerning such alien individual with the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization... [s]hall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."

"The minimum standards of character that are to be prescribed under this section shall ensure that none of the individuals appointed to positions described in subsection (a) of this section have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, any felonious offense, or any of two or more misdemeanor offenses, under Federal, State, or tribal law involving crimes of violence; sexual assault, molestation, exploitation, contact or prostitution; crimes against persons; or offenses committed against children."

"In accordance with regulations, the Secretary may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke, a certificate of registration (including a certificate of registration as an employee of a farm labor contractor) if the applicant or holder--...has been convicted within the preceding five years..., prostitution..."

[Editor's Note: Indoor prostitution became legal in 1980 as a result of an unintential legal loophole created by legislators when enacting laws targeting street prostitution. The state passed new legislation to close this loophole on Nov. 3, 2009.]

According to Nevada state law all prostitutes must use a condom, and must be tested weekly for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and monthly for HIV. Brothel owners and prostitutes are required to be licensed and registered, and to pass a background check. To learn more, read the full-text of Nevada's prostitution laws.

County

Legal Status

Fees for Brothel Ownership per Year(The fees below only include those specifically levied against operating brothels)

A chart titled "A State-By-State Look at Consensual Crime," in Peter McWilliams' 1996 book Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country, compares the legal status of various consensual sexual activities such as adultery, prostitution, and pornography (plus assisted suicide) across 50 states plus the District of Columbia (DC).